Traditional Education - Instruction Centre

Instruction Centre

Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
Person Teacher-centred instruction:
  • Educational essentialism
  • Educational perennialism
 Student-centred instruction:
  • Educational progressivism
Classroom Students matched by age, and possibly also by ability. All students in a classroom are taught the same material. Students dynamically grouped by interest or ability for each project or subject, with the possibility of different groups each hour of the day. Multi-age classrooms or open classrooms.
Teaching methods Traditional education emphasizes:
  • Direct instruction and lectures
  • Seatwork
  • Students learn through listening and observation
 Progressive education emphasizes:
  • Hands-on activities
  • Student-led discovery
  • Group activities
Materials Instruction based on textbooks, lectures, and individual written assignments Project-based instruction using any available resource including Internet, library and outside experts
Subjects Individual, independent subjects.

Little connection between topics

 Integrated, interdisciplinary subjects or theme-based units, such as reading a story about cooking a meal and calculating the cost of the food.
Social aspects Little or no attention to social development.

Focus on independent learning. Socializing largely discouraged except for extracurricular activities and teamwork-based projects.

 Significant attention to social development, including teamwork, interpersonal relationships, and self-awareness.
Multiple tracks
  • A single, unified curriculum for all students, regardless of ability or interest.
  • Diverse class offerings without tracking, so that students receive a custom-tailored education.
  • With School to work, academically weak students must take some advanced classes, while the college bound may have to spend half-days job shadowing at local businesses.

Students choose (or are steered towards) different kinds of classes according to their perceived abilities or career plans. Decisions made early in education may preclude changes later, as a student on a vo-tech track may not have completed necessary prerequisite classes to switch to a university-preparation program.
Student and teacher relationship Students often address teachers formally by their last names. The teacher is considered a respected role model in the community. Students should obey the teacher. Proper behavior for the university or professional work community is emphasized. In alternative schools, students may be allowed to call teachers by their first names. Students and teachers may work together as collaborators.

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